Saturday, December 18, 2021

Christmas 2021: Part 3 Hall and Bedrooms

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Our home is a 1970's ranch with that space-wasting, long hallway. At the end is the main bathroom. I keep the door closed and hang this vintage stitched Santa from Denmark my great aunt did way back in the 1970s. 

We always got hand-work pieces for Christmas from my Danish family and occasionally a piece of silver for birthdays. 

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It's all thick cotton, cross stitched with hand-stitched edging!

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Behind another door hangs some festive 'garb', an elf runner and of course Santa's top and hat, waiting for the big day. A Sparky Griswold Hat finishes it all off! LOL. 

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Again, we are dragging everything out---this will probably be the last year I do this corner with this many toys--and ornaments. It's a bunch of 'Toyland' and Santa themed items, that are special, but I have to thin out!

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The extra bedroom, which I never show has the 'huge' Ivy tree made on a tomato cage that grew so much this year in all our heat.  I put it on a stool because of the long trailers. Another plant is purple on the desk. This is a north wall, so I've hooked up a plant light and leave the lamp burning all but a few hours a day.

More toys, as this is the room the Grand girl sleeps in when visiting. But, she has grown out of all this, I'm afraid Gramma hasn't...Lol.

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I only hung one long string of mini seed lights and six or so ornaments on the tree, so not to damage it.

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Three vintage soldiers my dad made for my boys and me...lined up on a shelf. A jar of vintage marbles, books and paintings are in this room. As, well as unwrapped gifts, holiday linens, all my husbands' batteries for the lawn equipment-(hopefully these will move to the basement). So right now it is a unphotographable jumble!

Across the hall is 
The master bedroom, which  faces south. It's our home for the plants I'm wintering over and a 'doll' tree.

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This skinny-minny tree...and is full of Barbie, American Girl, hand made toys, and collector ornaments with a 'girl' theme. Hubby's woodland tree is in the basement family room.

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I also use my grandmother's pearls, and a few baubles and bracelets, a bit of lace here and there.

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Annie and Andy, I made these way back in the early 1970's.

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A sweet flying pig ballerina hides under the tree. I've used a hand stitched runner for a tree skirt made by a dear friend.

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This flirty cherub isn't shy. Feathers on some hats, and white lights, keep this all aglow.

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My bookcases are a fright, but I have these on the top shelf...in front of a vintage boudoir tray. It is so very ornate and different, snagged at a thrift store. The vase on the right is German paste from the 1880-90's as is the conch shell vase in the middle. The girls were my mom's favorites and were all bells from the early 1940's.

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This sweet girl is my favorite, they were hand-painted by a ceramic company in Madison, Wisc. The name escapes me, and they are highly collectible..which I only found out a few years ago. 

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These little bells are porcelain bisque and some I made in the 1980's. I made oodles of hand made clay ornaments for shows. These are only about 4" high...and all hand formed and different! The beautiful vase is Fenton and inherited from my mom-in-law.


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My Mom made this sled and deer for my grandmother in the 1960's. I've filled the sled with vintage ornaments. 

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Lights give a warm glow at night...and I've just kept this sparse.

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I love the shape of this old pitcher...
and  two white polar bears stand watch.
I need to pop some pale greens in the pitcher, with our dried anniversary roses. 

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We keep the bed pretty simple. I have a lovely muted bedspread, but it weighs a ton and I only use it for holidays or major company.

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I love pattern and use one, on another on top of the other. The sheets are navy with little percale type designs. A bit of a jolt in this peaceful winter scene.

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My favorite recycled sweater is on the antique wardrobe hanger. 

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As the sun sets to dusk, the lights come alive. The glow of the lights is very comforting at night. I like to read a bit before sleeping.

Present to myself will be a copy of the new Outlander book---but I'm not getting it until after Christmas---or I will not get a thing done until I finish it...


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Soon the outdoor lights will be on ...

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The tree changes so much at night, 

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Hope you enjoyed my mini tour, a little living room wrap up will be next.

Do You have lights in your bedroom? 

next Part 4: Rest of the Living Room

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All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, unless otherwise designated. Please do not use my photos without permission. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts, or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

Thank you for your cooperation,


Sandi 










Friday, December 17, 2021

Christmas 2021: Part 2 Tree and Buffet

Christmas in Chicagoland consists of brilliant sunshine, or dark gloom, making photographing a challenge. Waiting for that medium light is a challenge. 
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We are passive solar which means our windows are all on the south side, with overhangs that shield the windows during the warmer months, but let the full bolt of sunlight in during the winter months. 

Our new windows don't go to the floor like the old ones, but that is a plus. 

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The tree is centered and in it's Victorian 'crib' on wheels. That was great for decorating all around the tree.

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Ornament on the left is from family in the late 1800's. 
Last year we only put 4 boxes of ornaments up---what came up the stairs is what went on the tree. This year the idea was to go through everything and cull...IMPOSSIBLE.

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Rudy was my hubby's childhood favorite.
We only put on the vintage, glass and favorites...so it is jammed. 
Fifty-three Christmases and inheriting ornaments really makes it hard.

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We have half a tote of glass snowmen we didn't even touch. An entire tote of wooden carved Santas, a tote of Santa statues from all around the world, A tote of un-breakables, and multiple totes of village houses and accessories, that we never even got close to having room to put out????

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Each year I would buy a box of glass ornaments, or something unusual, as well as an ornament for every person. Well we inherited my parent's and grandparents also.

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There are memories attached to so many. The striped blown glass ball was from an artist I sat next to for 4 days every year at an art show. We became great friends and I bought one every year!

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I'm a total sucker for gnomes, fairies, and mushrooms.

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The wax angel on the left was a replacement for my grandmother's which melted.
The fairy---I found maybe 10 years ago. 

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Hubby has contributed too, Rudolphs and some of his great grandparent's Victorian ornaments. We have two of these Santas...amazing the white fur is over 120 years old.

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The tree is full all the way around---how can we part with any????
We are going to see what the kids want....maybe NEXT year, lol.

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More memories and traditions.  The china cabinet is filled with family Royal Copenhagen and Bing & Grondahl porcelain and figurines. I just add traditional red candles and a few baubles. 

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Red candles are traditional in Danish homes---and I have kept up that tradition.

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I will use these dishes for our Christmas Dinner.

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My family was working folk in Denmark, farmers, fishermen, or cabinet makers.

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My mom was partial to the children figurines, while my grandmother had more adult ones and birds.

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We have so many serving pieces.

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I deep cleaned everything for Thanksgiving so they are ready to go.

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Hans Christian Andersen wrote the 'Snow Queen', 'Steadfast Tin Soldier', 'Thumbelina,' 'The Little Mermaid', and so many more fairytales that are part of Christmas traditions everywhere.

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On the buffet, I used family and thrift store found Silver, some polished, some not! Amazing that people gift sterling pieces to thrift stores and they sell them for under $10.

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I've added some silly fairy folk, and little lights with some vintage ornaments.

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All spread over a 'Turkish' weave 1800's tablecloth.  It has just that wonderful deep red color and the right amount of tint to make the old items really popl

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The centerpiece is my largest fairy. I sold these in my store in the late 1990's. And of course kept one. she's sweet and like all the fairies is pose-able with wonderful fly-away hair.

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Such a face....he's just too much fun.

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This 'Pige' (small girl) was one of my mom's favorites. She holds her apron open all year long to catch something magical.

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Grandmother's silver candlesticks with the mini multi-colored lights just sparkling.

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From our home to yours, I am wishing you Happy Holidays and Traditions. 
Do enjoy family and friends, safely! 

coming soon

Part 3: Bedroom and Hall

Part 4: Rest of the Living Room

If You enjoyed this post please FOLLOW IT in the upper right hand corner, to get just one email of each new post.

Thanks  ALWAYS  for visiting,
I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, unless otherwise designated. Please do not use my photos without permission. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts, or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

Thank you for your cooperation,


Sandi